Origami Box Instructions

If you're new to origami, welcome! The Masu Box is an especially great place to start because it's pretty easy to master and very versatile.

For example, depending on the paper you use, you can make a plain and simple box or a very festive one.

The Masu Box makes a particularly wonderful homemade gift box for truffles and other candies as well as jewelry and just about any small gift or trinket.

Perhaps You're Ready to Go With the Origami Box Instructions Below... Or Perhaps You Need a Pep Talk...

Origami looks confusing at first with all the folding and unfolding but really... It's just a bunch of folding and suddenly you have a box... Or a star... Or whatever you are creating. It's not very hard. Make one with practice paper first (repeat if needed), then break out the good stuff and start your real project(s). That's all it takes... An initial walk-through using these origami box instructions and you'll see that these are not too hard to make, they get easier each time and they are fun!

Origami Box Instructions: Easy Origami Gift Box

Choosing Paper: You can use just about any paper (even card stock but keep it at about 65lb or lighter and you'll need a bone folder or back of a spoon to run along folds for solid creasing)...

Tip: Keep in mind that one side will be completely enclosed by the folds so you only need a pleasing color or pattern on one side. In fact, you can even patch together a few different pieces of scrap paper into a perfect square (just keep the tape on the side that will be hidden) for a more eclectic look.

For the box and lid you'll need:

two pieces of square paper (one should be cut 1/2 inch smaller in height and width)

your hands

To Make an Origami Gift Box:

Start with a perfect square of paper with the patterned or colored side down and use the images and accompanying origami box instructions below as a guide for creasing and folding.

Size Quick-Guide:

For a 2" x 2" box with lid: start with one 5.5" x 5.5" and one 6" x 6" piece of square paper.

For a 2.5" x 2.5" box with lid: start with one 7" x 7" and one 7.5" x 7.5" piece of square paper.

For a 4" x 4" box with lid: start with one 11.5" x 11.5" and one 12" x 12" piece of square paper.

Tip: The best origami boxes are made with perfectly square paper. If a paper is labeled 12 x 12" or 6 x 6" however, it's still a good idea to measure each side anyway and trim if needed. This is because there is a small variance in paper manufacturing and you may have an extra 1/8" or so on one side, which can make a big difference in your finished box.

First fold point 4 to point 1. Open and fold point 3 to point 2. Your creasing will look like the letter X.

Next, take each point (1 - 4) and fold to the very center (point 5).

Now, with the corners folded in, you'll have a smaller square. Fold side 1 to center line (5) and side 4 to center line (5). Open both. Repeat with side 2 and side 3. Open both.

Open just two of the corners. Now fold side 1 to center line 3 and side 2 to center line 3.

Next fold corner 1 in to point 2. Open. Now repeat this with all 4 corners.

The box is almost done: The next part in these origami box instructions is harder to understand from written instructions but the truth is, all the folding and creasing you just did, will cause these last steps to practically form themselves. Do it just once and you'll see what we mean. One second you have a folded piece of paper, the next... a beautiful box!

Open sides 1 and 2 to form two sides of the box.

Push in the flaps (let the folds guide you) as seen by 1 and 2. Then fold point 3 down and into the box, creasing as necessary to form the third side and part of the inside bottom.

Repeat with the last side and now you have an origami gift box.

Let's review these origami box instructions with real photos...

To Make a Perfect Fitting Lid: To make a perfect fitting lid, repeat this entire process starting with a square of paper that is 1/2" larger than the base. For example, a small gift box with a lid can be made with one each of 5.5" and 6" pieces of paper.

The above is a great size for a single truffle in a mini cupcake liner (as shown below) or you can fit four to eight truffles by using a 12" x 12" and 11.5" x 11.5" paper for your box and lid.

Even dried materials from the great outdoors like sticks and interesting seeds...

A Cute Idea: Make your own origami box gift tower by making 3 or more gift boxes in slightly varying sizes. For example, a beautiful four box tower could be made by starting with coordinating 12 x 12, 10 x 10, 8 x 8 and 6 x 6 inch papers. Make each box with a lid. Fill each box with treats and stack them into a gift box tower. Wrap ribbon around the bottom box and pull ends to the top box to tie a bow.

Origami boxes can be used all year long... last minute gifts, birthday gifts, holidays, wedding favors, gifts for special occasions, thank you gifts, even fundraising and bake sale items will be more impressive when they come in an origami gift box...